By Chukwudi Obasi
Energia Limited has called for stronger policy execution, improved regulatory efficiency and enhanced industry collaboration to unlock Nigeria’s oil and gas potential.
Chief Operating Officer of the company, Oladimeji Bashorun, made the call while speaking at the Society of Petroleum Engineers Oloibiri Lecture Series and Energy Forum 2026 held in Abuja.
Bashorun spoke during a panel session themed, “Post-PIA Optimisation: Is Policy Enabling or Constraining Intelligent Operations?”, where he stressed the need to align regulatory frameworks with the realities of modern energy operations.
He acknowledged progress made by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission in improving engagement with industry stakeholders but noted that more work was required to ensure regulations effectively support operational efficiency and investment growth.
According to him, regulatory delays often discourage investments and limit production opportunities within the sector.
“Regulatory delays can paralyse investments; when approvals stall, production opportunities are directly impacted,” Bashorun said.
He also emphasised the importance of policy frameworks that support technology adoption, noting that digital transformation continues to shape operations across the global energy industry.
Bashorun questioned whether sufficient incentives and regulatory structures exist to encourage deployment of emerging technologies across Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
“Technology will enhance our operations, but the real question is, what incentives and frameworks exist to support its deployment?” he added.
The Energia COO further stressed the need for stronger collaboration among operators, noting that strategic partnerships have historically enabled international oil companies to achieve scale and operational efficiency.
“The strength of IOCs has always been collaboration; we must begin to replicate that as an industry if we want to scale effectively,” he said.
The forum brought together stakeholders across the energy value chain to assess the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act and explore pathways for optimising policy impact to achieve sustainable growth in the sector.
Energia reiterated its commitment to supporting policy development and promoting innovation aimed at improving efficiency, transparency and long-term value creation in Nigeria’s energy industry.
